Five for the Show

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)—the industry trade association representing general aviation aircraft manufacturers—announced on 08 December 2022 that its membership roster would thenceforth be graced by the additions of MD Helicopters as an association Member; Archer, Overair and Volocopter as Associate Members, and Odys Aviation as an Associate Member EPIC (Electric Propulsion & Innovation Committee).

Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, MD Helicopters manufactures iconic rotorcraft and forward-thinking rotorcraft solutions that support operators engaged in military, commercial, law enforcement, utility, and VIP missions. MD Helicopters has a rich history of designing and building safe, versatile, reliable, high-performance aircraft.

Archer Aviation is a Santa Clara, California-based designer of electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The company’s intention of democratizing flight is convincingly evinced in its Maker and Midnight aircraft, which promise to factor significantly into emerging urban air mobility networks. Archer joined GAMA as an Associate Member EPIC in 2021 and has opted to elevate its membership to Associate status.

Founded in 2020 as spinoff of Karem Aircraft, Santa Ana, California-based Overair is an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) concern applying decades of proprietary VTOL technology devised for military applications to the development of its Butterfly eVTOL platform. Butterfly—by virtue of its engineering—derives critical power reserves from commercially available battery cells, thereby affording passengers a high degree of safety and a superior in-flight experience. Overair (as Karem Aircraft) joined GAMA in 2018 as an Associate Member EPIC, and has elected to elevate its membership to Associate status.

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Bruchsal, Germany, Volocopter seeks to actualize the dream of electric flight. The company’s family of eVTOL aircraft offers affordable means by which to cleanly and sustainably transport both goods and people to local and regional destinations. Volocopter’s operational model is supported by VoloIQ—a User Activity Monitoring (UAM) software platform that facilitates safe and efficient aircraft operations. Volocopter joined GAMA in 2018 as an Associate Member EPIC and has elected to elevate its membership to Associate status.

Established in 2019 and headquartered in Long Beach, California, Odys Aviation is dedicated to building the future of regional air travel. The company develops and builds hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft for the world's busiest travel corridors, and in so doing, promotes the evolution of commercial aviation. By dint of its aspirations, ability, and associations, Odys Aviation is well positioned to contemporaneously cut regional travel times and the aviation industry’s carbon footprint.

FMI: www.gama.aero